Combined purifying and distilling apparatus



Jan. 28, 1930.

K. E. BUETTNER Filed 'March 13. 1928 SEPA/T470@ C07' UFF STEAM Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES KURT E. BUETTNER, OF DALLAS, TEXAS l COMBINED PURIFYING AND DISTILLING APPARATUS .Application led March 13, 1928.

This invention relates to a combined purifying and distilling apparatus designed primarily for use 1n planes for cleaning garments, fabrics, etc., but it is to be understood that an apparatus in accordance with this invention may be employed in any connection for which itisfound applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in. a

manner as hereinafter set forth a combined purier and still for reclaiming impaired cleaning fluid for further use, under such conditions materially reducing the cost of maintenance with respect to the plant.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an

apparatus of the class referred to so constructed and arranged for carrying out two diderent operations to reclaim cleaning fluids; rst for batch operations, which is any desired small amount, and for either distilling or purification; second, for continuous operation of either process, purification or distillation. Y

Further objects of the invention. are to 5 provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,v durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but 1t` 1s to be understood that changes, variations and, modicat-ions;V can be resorted to which fall within the scope to the lower end ofthe bottom 2V of'the still 1.

of the claims hereunto appended.

The drawing illustrates in elevation and partly in section anv apparatus for reclaiming cleaning fluid in accordance with thisinvention.

Referring to the drawing 1 denotes a still preferably of cylindrical contour and formed with an inverted conoidal shaped bottom 2 having connected therewith as well as arranged inspaced relation with respect there-- Seriall No. 261,398.

to an inverted rconoidal vshaped casing 3 which provides inconnection` withthe bottom 2 a steam space 4, or in other words the-bottomA of the still 1 is constructed in a manner to provide a steamxjacket therefor. A drain. pipe 5 is arranged centrally ofthe bottomof: the still 1 and opens into the latter. A: cut-,- ofi1 6 is provided'for. the pipe 5.` A steam supply pipe" 7 leads to the steam space 4 andthe latter hasl ext-ended therefrom a: steamL con-y densation outlet pipe 8 provideolzwith arcutolf 9. The supply pipe 7 opensfintozthe spacet4 near the top thereof andthek outlet; pipe 8-is positioned at the bottom of the spacei4. A. supporting structure or standl 10 is providedV for the still 1. Theftop; ofthe vstill 1 is 'india cated at 11, is provided with aimanshole. 12, andl communicating with thevlatter' is. a stand pipe lhaving itsupper end closed'as'indi cated at 14.

Arranged withink the stillV 1 and: above thebottom 2 thereof is a` steam heating coil? 15 positioned in the lower part of the body porL tion, 0f Said still. lThe inverted conoidalshaped bottoml 2 of the still. LeXtendsf -from the lowerV end of the body portion and; the latter *provides` a purifying i or distilling chamber 17 for-,the fluidor liquid which isv'to be reclaimed. Leading' to the coil 15.` is a. steam inlet pipe 18and1 extending fromrthe coil 15 is a steam outlet pipe 19. Thepipe 18 opens into the coil 15 atiitstop andthepipe 19 leads from: the bottom of the coil. 15. :The pipes 18 and 19 project` through the body portion at one-side thereof. QEXtending into thelower portionof the chamber 17 and'projecting into the bottom 2of the still 1 isa live steam supply piper20foragitating the fluid, and for increasing'A distilling by moisture. The pipe 20 extends to. a point in'proXimity Arranged within the` chamber 17, extendv ing through the coil` 15 andl dischargingat a.` point inproXimity to therlowen end of. the bottom 2 isthe verticalibranch 21` of ing fluid supply line 22 which; `projects through one; side ofthe body' portion andfis provided with a cutoff; 23.v The line;22:is a gravity flow line for using; the ap aratusf on a4 continuous-1 flow basis so tha-tr. t e. fluidis.v

not too severely agitated. The coil 15 is employed for dry heating the fluid above the bottom 2 and also acts as a means for heating the branch 21 as the latter extends through the coil 15. Communicating with the chamber 17, in proximity to the upper end of the bottom 2 of the still 1, is a draw-ofi1 pipe 24 for batch purification. The pipe 24 is provided with a cutoff 25. Communicating with the chamber 17, at a point above the pipe 24, is a supply pipe 26, provided at its outer end with a vertically disposed funnel 27. The pipe 26 and the funnel 27 are provided for supplying a purifying medium consisting preferably of caustic soda, a de-colorizing carbon derived from lignite and Water to the still 1 when the cleaning fluid is to be reclaimed by the batch purifying method, and also by a continuous purification method. Connected to the body portion in proximity to the upper end thereof is a conducting pipe 28 which leads from the chamber 17 to a condenser to be presently referred to when the apparatus is employed as a still. The pipe 28 is provided with a cutoff 29. Depending from the pipe 28 rearwardly with respect to the cutoff 29 is an outlet pipe 3() for testing the height of the fluid in the chamber 17. The pipe 30 is provided with a cuto 31. Opening into the stand pipe 13, at the top thereof, is a valved pipe 32 to provide a vent for allowing gases to escape when the apparatus is being used as a purifier. Communicating with the stand pipe 13, in proximity to the top thereof, is a valved overflow pipe 33 which is employed whenthe apparatus is used as a continuous chemical purification unit.

-Arranged adjacent the supporting structure 10 is a pump 34 having an intake 35 for the fluid to be reclaimed. The intake 35 is connected in any suitable manner to a source of fluid or liquid. Leading from the pump 34 is a conducting line 36 for the fluid and which includes a controlling valve 37 and a cuto 38. The line 36 leads to and communicates with a condenser to be presently referred to and the line 22 extends from and communicates with the condenser.

Positioned adjacent the body portion of the still 1 is a condenser device which provides a combined cooling and preheating means employed for cooling gases from the still, for preheating the liquid to be reclaimed and for returning under pressure the cooling medium, which is water. The condenser device includes a coil referred to generally at 38 formed of a series of superposed, spaced,

parallel communicating branches arranged in groups. Each group can consist of any desired number of branches and as shown, by way of example, one of the groups consists of four branches indicated at 39, 40, 41 and 42 and the other group consists of six branches indicated at 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48.

One end of each branch 39 and 4() is coupled together as at 49. One end of each branch 40, 41 is coupled together as at 50. One end of each branch 41, 42 is coupled together as at 51. One end of each branch 42, 43 is coupled together as at 52. One end of each branch 43, 44 is coupled together' as at 53. One end of each branch 44, 45 is coupled together as at 54. One end of each branch 45, 46 is coupled together as at 55. One end of each branch 46, 47 is coupled together as at 56 and one end of each branch 47, 48 is coupled together as at 57. The group consisting of the branches 39, 40, 41, 42 is the upper group and employed for preheating the liquid to be reclaimed and both groups are employed for condensing the gases from the still. but particularly the lower group as the cooling medium associates therewith.

Surrounding the branches 39, 40, 41 and 42, as well as being spaced therefrom are tubular members 5.8, 59, 60, 61 respectively. The tubular members are of less length than the branches and have their ends sealed and form in connection With the branches circulating spaces for the liquid to be reclaimed when the latter is traveling in a direction through said spaces towards the line 22. rlhe members 58 and 59 communicate with each other as at 62. The members 59 and 60 Icommunicate with each other as at 63 and the members 60 and 6l communicate with each other as at 64. The line 22 opens into the upper member 58, as at 65. The line 36 opens into the lower member 61, as at 66.

Surrounding the branches 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 are tubular members 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 respectively and which are of less length than the length of said branches and have their ends sealed. Communicating with l the upper member 72 is an inlet connection 73 fora cold water supply, and the lower member 67 is provided With an outlet connection 74 for a Water discharge pipe, not shown adapted to lead to any point desired. The members 67 to 72 inclusive are arranged in spaced relation with respect to the members 43 to 48 inclusive to provide Water circulating spaces. The member 67 communicates with the member 68 as at 75. The member 68 communicates with the member 69 as at 76. The member 69 communicates with the member 70 as at 77. The member 70 communicates with the member 71 as at 78. The member 71 communicates with the member 72 as at 79.

The branch 39 of the upper group is connected to and communicates with the pipe 28.

Arranged below the condenser is a separator 80 formed of sections 81, 82, 83, and 84. The sections 81 and 82 are employed for separating condensed steam from the condensed solvent. lThe sections 83 and 84 are filled with cotton waste to remove all trace of moisture. Leading from the branch 48 of the ice lower group and opening into the separator is a conducting pipe 85 for the condensed steam and solvent.

rl`he apparatus is constructed and arranged for carrying out two different operations to reclaim impaired cleaning fluids, one batch and the other continuous. Preferably the apparatus will be employed for the reclaiming of batches of impaired cleaning fluid by purification, and to operate the apparatus for batch purifying there is supplied to the still 1 thirty pounds of caustic soda, twenty pounds of a de-colorzing carbon derived from lignite and fifteen gallons of water. The pump is started and the impaired fluid is supplied to the still 1 through pipe 36, tubular members 61, 60, 59 and 58, supply line 22 and vertical branch 21 until it runs out of the pipe 28. The coil 15 is employed for dry heating the solvent. The solution within the still 1 is allowed to settle until it is cleared and which is determined by opening pipe 24. After the composition is cleared the solvent may be drawn through pipe 24 to any point desired. The fluid to be reclaimed is not preheated in passing through tubular members 61, 60, 59 and 58, when the apparatus is used for batch purification.

To operate the apparatus as a continuous still, the fluid is to be preheated by pumping the dirty solvent through the tubular members surrounding the upper group of the branches of the coil. Cuto 31 being closed and cutoff 29 being opened, the solvent passes from pump, through pipe or line 38 to tubular member 61, then through tubular members 60, 59 and 58 to line 22, from the latter down through branch 21 and discharged into chamber 17. The gases given Off pass through pipe 28 into condenser 38 and conducted therefrom to separator 8O from there discharged. Preheating the solvent by pumping through the upper group of tubular members reduces the cost of operation in two ways, one reducing the amount of steam required ordinarily in distilling, the other by reducing the ordinary amount of water required for cooling; hot water from cooling coil can be returned under pressure to boiler or overhead tank for uses elsewhere.

To operate the apparatus on a continuous chemical purification basis, the apparatus must be filled to capacity, and the still 1 is charged with the same amount of chemicals and water as for batch purifying. The fluid is conducted to the distilling chamber lirough pipe 86, tubular members 61, 60, 59 and 58, line 22 and branch 21. rlhe pump is started and the pipe 30 closed. The pumping action is carried on at the rate of ten gallons per minute on a four hundred gallon machine. The pipes 28 and 30 are also closed. The purifier, when full of solvent, will discharge out of pipe 33 and into a separator not shown, from where it will heready, water white, for re-use for cleaning purposes.

The gases from the chamber 17, when the pipe 28 is open lpass through the branches of the condenser and into the separator 80. The condensed gases can be utilized to heat the. upper group of the branches whereby the cleaning fluid travelling through tubular members 58 to 61 will be heated before it is discharged into the still 1.

It is thought the many advantages of an apparatus in accordance with this invention and for the purpose set forth, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodi-ment of the invention is as illustrated and Y described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for reclaiming cleaning fluid a still having an inverted conoidal shaped bottom formed exteriorly with a steam jacket having a rsteam intake andA an outlet for products of condensation, said bot tom axially thereof including a drain therefor closed to said jacket, a steam coil within the still and having its intake and outlet ends extended laterally to project through the wall of the still above the bottom of the latter for suspending the coil, a vertically disposed, reclaimable cleaning medium suppply pipe leading from a source of supply, arranged within the still, extending into said bottom and passing through said coil, and a stand pipe opening into said still through the top of the latter and provided with a valve controlled vent and a valve controlled overflow.

2. In an apparatus for reclaiming cleaning fluid a still having an inverted conodial shaped bottom formed exteriorly with a steam jacket having a steam intake and an outlet for products of condensation, said bottom axially thereof including a drain therefor closed to said jacket, a steam coil within the still and having its intake and outlet ends extended laterally to project through the wall of the still above the bottom of the latter for suspending the coil, a. vertically disposed, reclaimable cleaning medium supply pipe leading from a source of supply, arranged within the still, extending into said bottom and passing through said coil, a stand pipe opening into said still through the top of the latter and provided with a valve controlled vent and a valve controlled overflow, and a live steam supply line extending into said still and discharging into said bottom in proximity to the lower end of said pipe.

8. In an apparatus for reclaiming cleaning fluid a still having an inverted conoidal shaped bottom formed exteriorly with a steam jacket having a steam intake and an outlet for products of condensation, said bottom axially thereof including a drain therefor closed to said jacket, a steam coil within the still and having its intake and outlet ends extended laterally to project through the Wall of the still above the bottom of the latter for suspending the coil, a vertically disposed, reclaimable cleaning medium supply pipe leading from a source of supply, arranged Within the still, extending into said bottom and passing through said coil, a stand pipe opening into said still through the top of the latter and provided with a valve controlled vent and a valve controlled overflow, a live steam supply line extending into said still and discharging into said bottom in proximity to the lower end of said pipe, a controllable overflow communicating With the still near the top thereof, a controllable discharge means communicating with the still in proximity to the upper end of said bottom, and means opening into said still for supplying a purifying medium therein.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature hereto.

KURT E. BUETTNER. 

